Chapter Thirteen
Lexie's dad, and sister were in LA, and Her Mom was here in the Washington with her. Jess was of course with her and her team. She couldn't leave because of school, not that she was Jealous she hated all that dressing up and stuff. It was bad enough she couldn't wear jeans, or even regular Khakis to school. They had to be dress pants, or a suit skirt, She was lucky she could wear converse, most of the kids wear something similar to what the people in the White House wore, professional attire, suits, Lexie wore that too, she just wore her Converse too. They were her trade mark, those and her many different colored flower necklaces. Mariana made them for her. She had about 40 of them, Mostly in Silver, all different colors. Matching her sneakers, and her outfits. She had a few gold ones. And earrings to match. Lydia had given her money like it was going out of style when she lived with her, not that she cared a lot of her Jewelry and sneakers were bought with Lydia's money they were the only things left that were. Everything else had been replaced. She didn't really care and Lydia owned her. Now that she thought about it, she didn't want them anymore. She had about 40 Converse that she bought since. She went to her Mom's Office she didn't have.
"Mom, I need to talk to you."
"Lexie what is it…I'm a little busy….."
"I need to replace all my Jewelry and Converse that I got from Lydia I know it's a lot, we're talking about hundred something shoes, and dozens of necklaces…..But I can't…" her lower lip trembled. They were easy replaced for exact replicas, the shoes given to charity, as were the necklaces. Abbey had been expecting this and had had by Mariana made a larger variety, and more expensive than the ones she originally bought the First lady was pleased. Meanwhile the President dealt with Zoey's detail, he tells the person hosting the fundraiser he's going to he would stick any bill to ban gays in the military in a drawer, but he can't say it out loud, and Josh looks forward to seeing Joey Lucas again. In Washington Leo tries to convince the Vice president to break the senate block on the ethanol tax credit.
Doug Westin was killed in a car accident on February 23rd, it wasn't sexy or scandalous like reporters were hoping when they heard he died. There was a lot of snow and black ice for the Week of February 23rd in New Hampshire and he just hit a patch of Black Ice, skidded and hit a tree, When Liz heard he died she went in labor. On February 25th, 1999, Jonathon Augustus Westin Otherwise known as Gus, was born at 6 pounds 11 ounces and 14 inches long. There was a memorial for Douglas Jonathon Westin a few days later. It was not a state funeral but a small family funeral. Lexie attended and was upset she couldn't bring herself to be sad for him. She mourned him, as she mourned the loss of all human life cut short, and she was sorry for her niece, and the pain her sister was in. But she couldn't bring herself to mourn him, she knew it was because she didn't know him, and the two times she actually met him, he wasn't the nicest to him, be she worried that, that said something about her, that, she wasn't as nice a person as she thought, and she couldn't talk about it with anyone because they were all focused on Liz, Annie and the baby. She worked herself up so bad, she scratched herself very deeply, they had let her nails grow and she might need stitches this time. She called for Jess.
"Jesus, Lexie, I knew it was a mistake to let your nails grow…..Luckily Ellie and Millie are already here, we can't go to the ER right now the press have a field day." Ellie was the one who ended up doing it, they didn't use stitches they used crazy glue like stuff derma bond, and bandages. She knew they would be back to watching her like a Hawk. She felt really bad she didn't mean for this happen. It just sort of happened. She doesn't want to hurt herself she really doesn't. She tells Ellie that.
"I did a psych rotation, I know part of you does want to hurt yourself….."
"I really don't…but it's like…it feels like I can't explain it….."
"Well, I suggest you figure it out, because until you do, I don't think you're going to stop." Her Mom had made her see Dr. Phelan every day after school for two weeks after, before tapering back off twice week. Then Her Mom and dad, and their staffs were fighting about child slavery, the chairman of the Federal Reserve and his replacement who used to be her Mom's boyfriend, meanwhile Charlie and Zoey fight, and Charlie shows up at her dorm room with flowers and gifts. In the meantime Lexie tries out for softball team and makes it.
Lexie has her first softball game and wins, her pitching is superb, and her mother a former softball pitcher is extremely proud.
The senate finally confirms Mendoza and Toby is feeling burned out, Everyone celebrates the confirmation, Mandy is obsessed with getting new Pandas for the DC Zoo from China, and Josh says Toby's the guy, but Toby's burned out, and Mandy says let's get Josh back, Zoey attends a frat party and afterward a friend who was there is busted with by Metro PD, CJ tries to Minimize the story despite the fact that she lied to reporters, Josh has a long discussion about reparations for the candidate slavery with for the Assistant attorney general for civil rights.
Rumors percolate about a Memo Mandy drafted while she was writing for the opposition, meanwhile they have a disaster day, about the effects of several quests the president put them on of dangling their feet in the water, Lexie is n Take your Daughter to work Day, Spends the day in the Oval Office, and around the West Wing. Since her mother isn't doing any surgeries anymore. She really would have preferred that. But Between the First Lady and the President, She decided on the President. And she's going the First Lady the next day since she has permission. And is required to write a paper on each day. Toby insists on helping her. The President names his appointments to the Federal election commission, and Lexie gets quite a paper to write, about her father.
Lexie is aware of the tension in the West Wing, She meets and immediately likes Toby's ex-wife Congressman Wyatt, and she likes her father's speech when he throws down the gauntlet and names the names he wants to name to the federal election commission, his opponents get a little nasty in the weeks following but there's nothing they weren't expecting.
Hell breaks loose when the married ambassador to Bulgaria has been having an affair with the daughter of that country's prime minister, and Sam's been photographed with a known Call girl about to graduate law school. CJ wonders if she's being marginalized by Leo for past Mistakes, and Josh is clashing with Joey Lucas, Meanwhile Lexie feels neglected as she her team is continuously winning and only Jess, her agents and the press are there.
Another Week passes and The President prepares for a Town Hall meeting with College Students, While the US Military prepares to find a downed US pilot in the Iraqi desert, CJ doesn't relish misleading the Press about rescue operations, meanwhile Toby tries to ignore updates from a distress orbiting space shutting that includes his brother, Josh tries to convince the Vice President to rethink his position on campaign finance reform, and Lexie is focuses on painting that is taking up most of her time. But goes to the Town Hall meeting, the President speaks, and upon exiting the town Hall meeting, Both Gina and Grace see something, they get the girls into the car. Grace is able to get all three shooters, afterward. Both Josh and the President are still hit. Lexie scratches herself up pretty bad in fear. She needs to be looked at.
Abbey comes and tells the doctor putting the president under, about his MS, she sees the doctor treating her daughter Lexie because there's no way Lexie didn't scratch the crap out of herself, during that mess. For several hours the person running the country is someone no one elected and that is troubling. But the only who seems to notice is Danny Concanon. Josh takes months to recover. And so does the President. Lexie is in therapy every day in the summer. She sees Tess Every day she's Interning during the Summer, She was set to Intern in Josh's Office, now she's Donna's right hand woman, because everyone else there, had something they already need to be doing. Lexie volunteering too, and doing extra credit classes. She does more sketches, much more sketches. She actually has enough sketches to do way more than four books. But that's all her parents will allow for now, and now that those four have been published she's is done for now. She had won her Softball Championship despite everything the first time in 12 years Standish won their Softball championship, she was proud of that. She aced all her classes even gym because of the championship she automatically aced gym. So she got straight A+s in everything even French thanks to Elle Jackson, who helped her manage it. She didn't know why she bothered taking French she was much better at Latin and Spanish, and Italian. But She guessed she wasn't terrible at since she managed with tutoring to get an A. The summer was almost over and she turned 16. Her Sweet 16 was one for the record books, they held it in the ball room and invited her entire school, and all kinds of important people. Her Mother said she didn't have a choice it was what was expected of her. She would wear a Blue Summer dress to bring out her eyes, but she could probably get away with matching Converse since it was literally her trade mark every magazine and newspaper in the world knew it was her trademark. So she did, she wore a Pretty Bright blue summer dress, a matching flower necklace from Mariana, matching stud earrings, and matching blue converse high-tops. Her hair as usual with a short pixie cut, with matching barrettes that Mariana had made. The More expensive Necklaces Mariana had made, had diamond in the middle, and expensive gems instead of costume Jewelry, and sterling silver. There were over Two Dozen in every color available. She looked beautiful and so different than the Young girl who had been picked up from Philadelphia a year and 4 months earlier. She was strong and confident, and while that was also true, she was confident in all things not just the things she had always been confident in, she had a strong family support system, and she was happy she couldn't honestly say that was true, a year and half ago, Daniel, Olivia, and Maisy were here as they came last year. Daniel was once again staying with Ainsley. Who honestly liked talking with Sam Seaborne the man kept picking fights with her like he did last year, He was a democrat, but last year they happily argued almost the entire party about almost political everything under the sun, while the kids hung out. He's kind of cute, and even though her father and Mother, and Grandfather were all Republicans but her Grandmother was a Democrat and they'd been happily cancelling out each other votes Since the Truman Administration. She didn't see an issue with marrying or being with someone of a differing political view. While she and Sam were arguing in front of everyone it was getting pretty heated the President was talking to Leo.
"We should hire her Leo."
"Of course Mister President." Leo said humoring the president.
"I'm Serious, Republicans are half this country, we should really hire more of them to work for the administration and she's a smart, compassionate, kind, creative young woman and the fact that she disagrees with me shouldn't matter all that much."
"No, Sir. Where should I put her?"
"She's a lawyer put her in the Counsel's office, I really like her Leo, I've talked to her several times. She's a sharp, and creative, and has a strong sense of duty, she won't turn you down."
"Yes, Sir. You know the fact that you only Hire republicans if they have a personal tie to you will look bad, first David Harper, now Ainsley Hayes….."
"I don't have a personal tie to Ainsley Hayes."
"Your daughter does."
A few days later. Ainsley Hayes is summoned to the White House unsure why, it's not like she has written anything truly horrible lately, or had any truly critical TV appearances. She goes to the Chief of Staff's office.
"Hello, Miss Hayes, I'm Leo McGarry. You know the President really likes you he's very impressed with you."
"I like him too sir, I never thought I'd say that about a Democratic President, but on a Personal Level Sir. I truly like him, he's a good man."
"He wants you Hire You."
"Hire Me for what?"
"Associate White House Counsel, our last Associate White House Counsel was Promoted to Deputy White House Counsel, when our Last White House Counsel Left, anyway the job is yours if you want…the President likes intelligent creative people who disagree with him Ainsley….."
"Really….."
"Haven't you ever wanted to work in the White House?"
"Since I was two."
"Then what's the problem…."
"I don't me suppose I have one sir….." This could work and Democrats or Republican Working at the White House looked fantastic on a resume. When the Republicans took back the White House she could always stay, or go into private practice and have her pick of law firms.
"Good…..Welcome to the White House."
In few days later, Ainsley Hayes starts work at the White House, Her Cousin's friend the President's daughter brings her a present for her new office, the Steam pipe distribution venue, She Brings her a Large Latte size Coffee Cup with the Words Life's a Beach on it and a Small desk toy with a tiny beach chair, a tiny set of sandals, a beach ball, beach umbrella, Sea shells, and a floating ring, all in a clear square plastic box filled with white sand, entitled day at the beach.
"Thank you."
"Your Welcome…..I wanted you to feel Welcome this my lead Agent Grace Cabot."
"Please to meet you, Miss Hayes."
"Ainsley's fine."
"Grace."
"Nice to meet you."
"I really should be Lexie back, she has things she should be doing and Miss Cameron her Nanny will wonder where we went off too."
"I see, well thank you for making me feel Welcome, Lexie."
"Of course I made you feel Welcome Ainsley your Daniel's favorite Cousin you made him feel like he had a big sister, you made him feel loved, and accepted. I'll always love you for that Ainsley and always feel like I owe you big time for that."
"You don't owe me anything for that, Lexie. Danny's my cousin I love him, and he deserves all the Love and support he gets, end of story."
"How is she?"
"Well, Granddaddy finally convinced him to join the football team. He can't really play most of the positions very well except Wide Receiver he's a fairly decent Wide Receiver because he's fast as anything and he can catch pretty much anything they throw at him."
"Years of Dodge ball had to come in handy at some point." Lexie said with a shrug Lexie knows it's more than that he's always been an excellent shape and he catches them because he's lithe, and quick, with lighting fast reflexes born of not only years of soccer but years of dodging bullies and abusive fathers, he can't play the other positions because he hasn't the bulk. And so does Ainsley.
"A Football Scholarship would get him into college a lot more easily than him playing Soccer. Do you know what Daniel wants to study?"
"He plays that pretty close to the vest the last time I knew for sure, he were 8. And he wanted to be Indiana Jones that might not have changed. Grace is right we should go, Good Luck Ainsley."
Sam is welcoming right away, because he already likes her, so are the others members of the senior Well, Josh isn't here yet. they do the posters and the opera on the second day there. And she feels welcomed.
"I See, the first daughter got to you first?" Sam said smiling.
"She loves giving people gifts and you never know if its to cheer you up, or to wind you up. When Josh got into it with Mary Marsh She got Josh a Hulk Mug…..it said You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." Sam said.
"12 weeks away from Mid-term elections Josh advises CJ from his sickbed, The President is obsessed with a man he beat years ago running for a local race in Manchester, Sam strongly encourages a law school friend to run and then has to withdraw his support when questions about racism surface, Toby is morose as he seeks to act against hate groups, The president appears at a reception for talk radio hosts and completely blows apart a conservative reactionary radio counselor, Charlie Behaves cool and distance toward Zoey until Lexie come at him.
"Charlie you need to knock it off."
"Knock what off."
"This cold shoulder shit you're doing to Zoey, it's hurting her and it's hurting you, you Love her I know you do. I'm pretty sure you two are meant to be together but you're pushing her away….."
"I almost got her killed, I got your father shot!"
"Not You, Psychotic bigoted racist assholes. Are you saying I got myself kidnapped 13 years ago?"
"No Of Course not?" He said confused. "That's crazy."
"It's the same thing, we cannot control the actions of others Charlie, as much as we'd like to sometimes. And Saying You got my dad shot in the same as saying I got myself kidnapped, it's the exact same thing. You didn't ask those Psychotic Racist assholes to fixate on you and Zoey any more than I asked Dorothy Loren Harris to fixate her crazy ass on me, it's not your fault." Meanwhile Lexie is invited by Drew to a Halloween Charity Costume Gala thrown at the Hay-Adams by Children first one of the charities Lexie supports, and her father is refusing to allow her to go. After taking it over with his wife, and everyone in the secret Service, including Ron. She is allowed to go. If she takes both the Secret Service, and Jess as a Chaperon.
"Thanks, Lexie.'
"Sure thing."